The care sector on the Isle of Wight may be stretched further as the deadline approaches for care staff to be fully vaccinated.
In August this year, the government announced all those working in care homes, including local authority-owned establishments, would need to have at least two Covid vaccines by 11th November, unless they were exempt.
If any person, including a staff member, is not double jabbed they will be refused entry into the care home
Love: Bed numbers adjusted
The Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet member for adult social care, Cllr Karl Love, said some providers on the Island have already adjusted bed numbers to account for staffing pressures, which means fewer spaces are available for those being discharged from hospital.
Latest figures from NHS England show how many care staff have been fully vaccinated across different areas of the care sector: 95 per cent of younger adult care home staff, 77 per cent of domiciliary care staff and only 54 per cent of carers in other settings, such as non-registered settings and local authority employed carers.
The council is monitoring effects on the already-stretched care sector.
Love: Care staff please get vaccinated: we need you, we value you
With just over a week to go until the deadline, Cllr Love stressed the importance of carers getting vaccinated — although they will not be forced to get one.
Speaking at a meeting of the local outbreak engagement board today (Wednesday), Cllr Love said,
“Care staff please get vaccinated: we need you, we value you, we care for you but the evidence is vaccination overwhelmingly works and we need to protect everybody in our care.
“It is not us trying to force you but it is something that is important for your own health and the lives of people we care for.”
A campaign has been launched this week by the government to build a ‘bigger and better’ adult social care workforce, encouraging more people to apply for a roles in the sector.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by News OnTheWight. Ed
Image: © With kind permission of Allan Marsh
